Strait Access Technologies Holdings (pty) Limited

Kenneth Stuart Park

Peter Paul Zilla

Deon Bezuidenhout

Braden Sydney Clive Van Breda

Giuseppe Geldenhuys

Harish Appa

Grant Leigh Nelson

Edward Charles Mudge

Jeremy Douglas Jarman

Thomas Gerhardt

Peter Rudi Haw

Jandré De Villiers

Carl Nick Van Zyl

Fourie Gildenhuys

Claude Visagie

Nick Carl Van Zyl

The invention provides an inflatable insertion device capable of being percutaneously introduced into a patient's body. The insertion device comprises an inflatable element having a distal end and a proximal end and which is operable between a collapsed condition and an inflated condition by introducing an inflating fluid therein. An elongate member extends internally of the inflatable element from its distal end. The internal member is capable of being withdrawn towards the proximal end of the inflatable element to result in the distal end of the element being withdrawn towards the proximal end internally of the element. The invention further provides a locating device comprising a catheter having a catheter tube fitted with one or more inflatable insertion devices at a distal end thereof.

Inflatable insertion device for percutaneous insertion

The invention provides a non-occlusive dilation and deployment catheter device which includes a catheter having a distal end configured for entering a patient and a proximal end for manipulating the device. A distender is provided at or near the distal end which is movable between a collapsed configuration which enables introduction and removal thereof to and from an operative site in a vessel or other hollow organ of a patient, and an expanded configuration in which the distender assumes a radially expanded condition and defines a flow path therethrough. The distender includes a substantially tubular, radially expandable frame having a plurality of spaced apertures and at least one inflatable tube threaded through the apertures and shaped to extend in a spiral when inflated. The distender is movable to the expanded configuration by inflating the tube, and movable to the collapsed configuration from the expanded configuration by deflating the tube.

Non-occlusive dilation and deployment catheter device

An expandable stent comprises a cylindrical wall made up of lattice members connected to each other, at least one first arm and at least one second arm. The first arm comprises: a first non-linear member that is connected at each of its axial ends to a lattice member at respective first junctions; a second non-linear member connected at each axial end to a lattice member; and at least one bridge member extending between the first member and the second member. The second arm comprises: a first non-linear member that is connected at each of its axial ends to a lattice member; a second non-linear member connected at each axial end to a lattice member; and at least one bridge member extending between the first member and the second member. The second member of the first arm is generally U-shaped, extending from its axial ends towards: (i) a first axial end of the stent; and (ii) towards the bridge of the first arm. The second member of the second arm is generally U-shaped, extending from its axial ends towards: (i) a first axial end of the stent; and (ii) towards the bridge of the second arm. The first arm is disposed at a second axial end of the stent, and the second arm is: (i) axially spaced from the first arm towards the first axial end of the stent; and (ii) axially aligned with the first arm. Furthermore, the first member and the second member of each of the first and second arms are connected to lattice members at their axial ends only. Upon radial expansion of the stent from a radially crimped condition under the influence of an external force, tension in: (i) the bridge of the first arm; and (ii) the bridge member of the second arm, causes the second members of both the first and second arms to protrude radially outwards, respectively.

Expandable stent and methods of crimping and expanding such stent

A prosthetic heart valve () which includes a stent () having three leaflets () attached thereto is provided. The stent () is compressible so as to be capable of being introduced into a patient's body through a minimally invasive procedure and has a ring-like body () defining in its height three arch-shaped elements (). Each element () includes an arc () and a pair of haunches () extending from opposite sides thereof, with three commissural posts () formed by the haunches () of adjacent elements (). The leaflets () each have an attachment edge () and a free edge () with a belly () extending therebetween. The leaflets () are movable between a coapted condition, in which the free edges () abut and prevent fluid flow through the valve (), and an open condition, in which fluid flow through the valve () is permitted. The leaflets () are made from a polymeric material and are moulded directly onto the stent () so as to provide for continuous attachment thereof.

Prosthetic heart valve

Growing community of inventors

Cape Town, South Africa

Kenneth Stuart Park